Northern Ireland

North's first game development academy launched

The north's Game Development Academy has been launched at parliament buildings
The north's Game Development Academy has been launched at parliament buildings The north's Game Development Academy has been launched at parliament buildings

Young people are to be equipped with the skills and experience required to take up exciting new opportunities in the game development industry.

Department for Employment and Learning Deputy Secretary, Catherine Bell, yesterday launched the north's first Game Development Academy at Stormont's parliament buildings.

The academy aims to prepare up to 16 talented individuals for opportunities in game development, which is a growing sector in Northern Ireland.

The idea is that the academy will offer an intensive 16-week training programme including a company placement. Successful participants will gain an industry recognised qualification and NI Screen, through the Aim High: Gaming scheme, funded by Invest NI, will offer a 12 month game development industry placement for up to six participants.

Ms Bell said the IT industry and specifically the game development sector had shown significant growth in the north in recent years.

"There is now a need for additional skilled people to enter the industry and the Game Development Academy will provide the skills required to allow people to gain opportunities in local companies," she said.

"Delivered through my department's Assured Skills initiative, this academy proves that government, the private sector and our further education colleges can respond quickly to industry needs by designing a bespoke programme to meet the skills need of the sector. This in turn will help to grow our local economy."

Alastair Hamilton, chief executive of Invest Northern Ireland, said gaming was an emerging industry in Northern Ireland, and worth an estimated £6 billion across the UK.

"Invest NI is supporting many local companies in this area through programmes such as Propel and through our support of Northern Ireland Screen," he said.

"The Game Development Academy, supported by Invest Northern Ireland will build on this momentum, and help shape the growth of the games industry here. It will provide the opportunity for local talent to develop the creative skills to help them take advantage of the opportunities in one of the world's fastest growing industries."

The academy has been designed by Northern Ireland's game development companies with support from the Department for Employment and Learning, Invest NI, NI Screen and NRC, in conjunction with South West College and Southern Regional College.

Applications will close on Friday October 2, 2015 at 4pm and the training programme for successful applicants will start on November 2 at Northern Regional College (NRC), Newtownabbey campus. Applications can now be submitted online at: https://gda.mindmill.co.uk/